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Here’s Every Daydream Ready Smartphone

Google Daydream, the company’s mobile VR platform, is compatible with a number of flagship smartphones from various manufacturers. Growing to a total of 11 Daydream-compatible phones by the end of the year, some of which are still unrevealed, we take a look at the phones you can buy now so you can start daydreaming.

You’ll of course need a VR headset and controller to go along with your new phone though, but for now there’s only a few choices on the market despite Google sharing the reference design with other OEMs, leaving you with the Google-produced Daydream View ($79) and the slightly cheaper BoboVR Z5 to choose from. There are several headsets claiming to offer Daydream support on the market, but if it lacks the required Daydream remote, you’ll be left you with little more than a fancy plastic Cardboard derivative.

Note: Google advertises the View as the only available Daydream headset at this time.

Google Pixel and Pixel XL

image courtesy Google

Revealed in October 2016, the Pixel and Pixel XL are Daydream’s first supported phones. With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 pushing the VR experiences on both—a late 2016 refresh of the older 820—potential Daydreamers should keep an eye on the specs before making a hasty purchase. The smaller Pixel packs a 5.0 inch AMOLED display at a comparatively low resolution – 1080 x 1920 with 441 ppi pixel density. The Pixel’s bigger bother, the XL, offers what should be considered a bare standard for flagships, pushing a 5.5 inch AMOLED with 1440 x 2560 pixels and 534 ppi pixel density. Both can be purchased as unlocked phones in the US, through Verizon, or as a part of Google’s Project Fi.

Motorola Moto Z and Moto Z Force

image courtesy Google

The Moto Z family of smartphones aren’t all alike in terms of ability, but at very least the Moto Z and slightly better-speced Moto Z Force fit into the Daydream platform, albeit on the graphical low-side with its older Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. The Moto Z and Moto Z Force both offer an 1440 x 2560 pixel AMOLED display with 534 ppi pixel density.

Like the new iPhone, Moto Z lacks a headphone port, using the Type-C USB port for everything. With the possibility to add ‘mods’, or magnetically attachable back plates, you can even buy a 360 camera specifically for the Moto Z family of phones, which launches alongside the Moto Z2 Force. The Moto Z2 Force, although not officially announced, might have Daydream capability as well with its newer Snapdragon 835.

Huawei Mate 9 Pro and Porsche Design Mate 9

image courtesy Google

Chinese manufacturer Huawei is coming up in the world with a more refined Samsung-esque design ascetic, now offering their flagship Mate 9 Pro and Porsche Design Mate 9 pushing a Hisilicon Kirin 960 built by Huawei’s subsidiary. The Mate 9 Pro isn’t officially available in North America yet, but currently looks to sell for around $700 through resellers, about the same price as it is in China. The Mate 9 Pro offers a 5.5 inch, 1440 x 2560 pixel AMOLED display with 534 ppi pixel density.

ZTE Axon 7

image courtesy Google

Chinese manufacturer ZTE offers the Axon 7 for a comparatively lower price than most flagships, starting at less than $450 for a new unlocked phone. With an older Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, the ZTE Axon 7 is another middle-end shoe-in, although it provides a 5.5 inch, 1440 x 2560 resolution AMOLED display with 538 ppi pixel density, which for the price certainly sounds attractive enough if you’re looking for the cheapest possible way to get into Daydream.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

image courtesy Google

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are the only phones in the list to support both Daydream and Gear VR, the company’s mobile VR platform built in partnership with Oculus. Pushing the most modern specs to boot, the S8 and S8+ both pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835. The S8 has a 5.8 inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2960 resolution and 570 ppi pixel density, while the S8+ has a massive 6.2 inch Super AMOLED with the same resolution but slightly lower pixel density at 529 ppi.

Samsung recently started rolling out Daydream support for both Galaxy S8 and S8+, as reported by The Android Soul.

Asus ZenFone AR

image courtesy Google

Asus ZenFone AR offers a few interesting things at its disposal besides the prospect of entering into virtual reality. Built in partnership with the team behind Google Tango, the Zenfone AR is the first phone to offer both Tango and Daydream support in a single package. Asus’ ZenFone AR boasts the less-new Snapdragon 821 chipset while packing a 5.7 inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution and 515 ppi pixel density.

According to a report via GSM Arena, the phone was first made available in its home country of Taiwan before making its way to India and the UK. The report contends that the recent sighting of ZenFone AR accessories in US stores points to the imminent US release.